DR Congo: Ex-President Kabila Named Leader Of New Rebel Coalition

Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, has been named leader of a new political-military coalition seeking to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi’s government.

The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) was unveiled on Monday at a press conference at Kabila’s residence in Goma, eastern DRC, a city that has been under the control of M23 rebels since last year.

Claude Ibalanky, an adviser to the coalition, announced Kabila’s appointment, naming Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki and Sultani Makenga as his deputies.

The coalition said it intended to coordinate “resistance forces” to end what it described as “tyranny” in the country, adding that it would pursue the objective “by all means, including force.”

Makenga is a leader of the M23 rebel group, while Nangaa and Bisimwa are associated with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)-M23 coalition, which seized large areas of mineral-rich eastern DRC last year.

Kabila’s emergence as leader of the new coalition marks a more direct involvement in an armed movement after he repeatedly denied supporting M23, despite accusations by Congolese authorities that he was backing the insurgency.

The announcement came days after Kabila delivered a speech promising to explain how Congolese people could “rescue” their country.

On Friday, the former president accused Tshisekedi’s administration of ignoring proposals he had made to help end the conflict in eastern DRC.

He also accused the government of corruption, poor economic management, worsening insecurity and arbitrary arrests of political opponents and military officers.

Kabila further criticised the government’s minerals agreement with the United States.

The Congolese government has yet to publicly respond to the allegations or comment on the formation of the new coalition.

Kabila, 55, ruled the DRC from 2001 until January 2019, when Tshisekedi assumed office following a disputed election.

After remaining largely out of public view for several years, Kabila became increasingly critical of his successor’s administration. He travelled to rebel-held Goma in 2025, while several of his former allies assumed positions within AFC-M23.

In a separate development, Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by a military court after being convicted of treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity over allegations that he supported the rebellion.

He has denied the accusations and described the case as politically motivated.

The formation of the FRN comes amid uncertainty over the DRC’s political future, with Tshisekedi’s second term due to end in 2028.

The president has said elections scheduled for that year may not take place because of the ongoing conflict. He has also suggested seeking a third term, while parliament has passed a bill that could pave the way for a referendum on changes to the constitution’s two-term limit.

The proposed changes have triggered protests in the capital, Kinshasa, where authorities clashed with demonstrators last month.